We’ll be looking this over and listening for others’ voices as well, but in the meantime go and have a read. You can download it here
UPDATE
TREC final report: first impressions
I’ve only had a chance to go through it once, and there is a lot to digest in this 73 page report. The task force has structured their report as recommendations “for changes in the Church’s structures, governance, and administration to advance the Five Marks of Mission.” They have grouped their changes in three areas of recommendations and then offered three corresponding resolutions for General Convention. These areas are:
- Restructuring for Spiritual Growth
- Reimagining Dioceses, Bishops and General Convention
- Restructuring Assets in service of God’s mission in the future
Some of the highlights of their resolutions are:
- Calling on the pension fund to incorporate clergy whose income does not come from the church
- Development of a new diocesan bishop search process that includes mandated discernment with adjoining dioceses
- Make diocesan apportionment lower but mandatory
- Establish a unicameral General Convention but that still allows for discussion and vote by order
- Election of PB by whole of GC, and PB serves as co-chair of GC
- Cuts the Executive Council in half to 21 members and eliminates EC staff
- There would be only two Standing Commissions; Theology, Liturgy, and Music and Governance, Constitution and Canons
- The PHOD would become the Presiding Deputy (from Lay and Ordained orders) and becomes a stipendiary position.
In my first reading my sense is that these changes would result in a centralization and concentration of power that is antithetical to the spirit of change that animated the previous General Convention which authorized this Task Force. There are some good ideas throughout, but as a whole I’m not so sure. It bears closer analysis and review, which we will bring to you in the following days.
Posted by Jon White